THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NY & NJ

Press Release Article

PORT AUTHORITY READY FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND TRAVEL

Date: May 24, 2005Press Release Number: 63-2005

Parking Lots Expected to Fill Up Quickly; Travelers Advised to Use Mass Transit

Millions of travelers are expected to move through the Port Authority’s three major airports, tunnels and bridges, bus terminals and the PATH system this Memorial Day weekend – Friday, May 27, through Tuesday, May 31. More than 1.2 million travelers are expected to use the region’s three major airports – John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and LaGuardia Airport – over the 5-day holiday weekend.

Chief Operating Officer Ernesto L. Butcher said, “We again expect airport parking lots to fill up quickly. We strongly recommend that travelers find alternate modes of transportation to the airport. Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, and airport parking, especially long term, may be limited. We urge travelers to take advantage of our rail link services, AirTrain JFK and AirTrain Newark.”

Director of Public Safety/Superintendent of Police Samuel J. Plumeri Jr. said, “Travelers should familiarize themselves with screening procedures as well as permitted and prohibited travel items before traveling. Being familiar with these items will help expedite the wait at security checkpoints.”

Airports

About 522,425 travelers are expected to use Kennedy Airport during the holiday weekend – a 7.6 percent increase over the 485,525 passengers who used the airport during the holiday period last year.

Due to ongoing construction of a new state-of-the-art parking facility at JFK, the parking lot directly across from the American Airlines terminals remains closed, reducing the amount of current parking at the airport. When completed in early 2007 the new facility will provide 1,940 public parking spaces.

Travelers who must drive to the airport should call 718 244-4444 for parking information or tune to airport radio at 1630 AM for parking updates. Passengers taking advantage of AirTrain JFK can call 877 JFK AirTrain (877 535-2478) for schedules.

About 427,682 travelers are expected to use Newark Liberty International Airport during the period – a two percent increase from 419,296 passengers last year.

Travelers who must drive to the airport can call 888 EWR-INFO and press 22 for up-to-date parking information or tune to 530 AM when near the airport. Information also is available for AirTrain Newark, which connects the airport to NJ Transit and Amtrak rail service.

LaGuardia Airport is expected to handle about 346,949 travelers, up 4.5 percent from the 332,009 passengers last year. Travelers who decide to drive to LaGuardia should call 718 533-3850 for parking information. Information on parking at all three airports also can be found on the Port Authority Web site – www.panynj.gov. Travelers should check the status of their flights with their airlines before leaving home, and allow extra time to check in.

Tunnels, Bridges and Terminals

The Port Authority expects more than 3.3 million vehicles to use the agency’s four bridges and two tunnels over the 5-day holiday weekend, similar to levels seen in 2004.

The bistate agency will suspend scheduled maintenance and construction at its bridges and tunnels Friday afternoon through Tuesday morning. Traffic advisories are available online at www.panynj.gov. Travelers using the Port Authority Bus Terminal and the George Washington Bridge Bus Station should allow extra time, as lines may be longer than usual. For more information, travelers can call 800 221-9903.

Port Authority Trans-Hudson

PATH will operate extra trains as needed for commuters leaving early on Friday, May 27. On Memorial Day, PATH trains will operate on a Sunday schedule. For additional information, call 800 234-PATH or visit www.pathrail.com.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates many of the busiest and most important transportation links in the region. They include John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia and Teterboro airports; AirTrain JFK and AirTrain Newark; the George Washington Bridge and Bus Station; the Lincoln and Holland tunnels; the three bridges between Staten Island and New Jersey; the PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) rapid-transit rail system; the Port Authority-Downtown Manhattan Heliport; Port Newark; the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal; the New York Container Terminal on Staten Island; the Brooklyn Piers/Red Hook Container Terminal; and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan. The agency also owns the 16-acre World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan.

The Port Authority is financially self-supporting and receives no tax revenue from either state.